I'm sorry I wasn't able to update this sooner, but real life has been kicking my butt! This chapter is a bit shorter, but hopefully the fluff will make up for that. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

IPSIPSIPSIPS

I will risk everything

I will fight, I will bleed

I will lay down my life

If that's what you need

Every second I live

That's the promise I make

Baby, that's what I'll give

If that's what it takes

-Celine Dion, If That's What It Takes

Elizabeth was coming down the hall when she heard the gunshots, and she ran to the nearest phone and called for security. But the protective detail that had been assigned to Marshall Mann's room arrived first, and she hurriedly explained to them what she had heard. They rushed into Marshall's room, and she followed them.

"Oh, no…"

There was a man lying on the floor, a large pool of blood beneath him. A neat hole in his forehead oozed blood, permeating her nose as she fumbled for the light. Finally artificial light flooded the room, allowing her to see Mary as well. The blond woman was sitting on the floor, leaned back against the wall. Her hand was clutching her shoulder as blood slowly stained her shirt.

Elizabeth wasted no time in kneeling down beside Mary. "Mary, can you hear me?" She gently pried Mary's hand away, so she could see the wound.

Mary finally stirred, her face pale. "Marshall…"

"Shh… Marshall is okay."

Suddenly Mary tensed, and she stumbled to her feet. Their attacker was on the floor, his eyes frozen and his mouth open in a silent scream. Fueled by rage and remaining adrenaline, she staggered over to his body, hesitating a moment before delivering a brutal kick to his head. Then she went to Marshall's side and studied his face. "He gave Marshall something, something that kept him unconscious."

Elizabeth joined Mary and began checking Marshall's vitals. "I'll run a tox screen on him. But we need to get you down to the E.R."

"No." A wave of nausea hit her when Mary shook her head. "No. I'm not leaving him."

"Mary, you need to be checked out."

Mary gave her a scathing look before dropping into the chair by Marshall's bed. The pain radiated through her shoulder, but it was overshadowed by her concern for her partner. She reached out and grasped his hand, squeezing tightly and hoping for a squeeze in response. There was none, and her heart began beating even harder. The newest assault on her body had left her drained and dizzy, but she fought her body's need to stop and rest.

Elizabeth watched Mary with concern. She could only push herself so far before she collapsed. And when she did finally collapse, it wouldn't be pretty. As cops finally flooded the small room, Elizabeth kept a careful eye on Mary. Just a few minutes later, Mary finally passed out. Relieved, Elizabeth gave the orders to have Marshall moved to another I.C.U. room, and Mary was taken downstairs to the E.R.

She gave her own statement about what she heard, but she knew that it wouldn't be much help. The body on the I.C.U. floor, and the newest assaults on Mary and Marshall were hopefully proof enough.

Stan made it up to the hospital within a half hour of the shooting. He was allowed to check on Marshall, but Mary had been taken into surgery. He was going to have his hands full when she awoke after surgery. After this newest attack, nothing short of sedatives would keep Mary from her partner's side.

He spoke with the responding officers and watched as the body was removed from the I.C.U. room. At least this nightmare was finally over. Marshall and Mary would be safe, as well as the other police officers who had survived the prior shootings.

The shooter was positively identified as Dominic Senser, a loser who had been arrested multiple times for murder, but had never been convicted. It seemed that anytime there was a witness, somehow that witness disappeared or came down with a bad case of amnesia. There was no physical evidence, and even though it was known he had done it, there was no proof, and he was always released. But this time, there would be no jury or lack of witnesses. Just a single bullet from the gun of a marshal determined to protect the life of her partner.

Stan knew that Mary would be in trouble for having a gun and using it after he'd suspended her, but he would make sure that she was shielded from the worst of the punishment. She had protected her partner, and he was proud of her, as he almost always was.

His phone buzzing at his hip caught his attention, and he sighed as he retrieved it.

"Here we go…"

Mary was in surgery for less than two hours and didn't even need a stay in the intensive care unit. Instead she was transferred to a regular room and kept under sedation, because all of the medical staff knew the situation that had occurred several hours ago. Her doctor wanted her to rest, because she obviously had not been doing that since the first time she was shot, so he decided to help her rest. The sooner she did, the sooner her body could begin healing and recovering, which was exactly what he wanted. It only briefly crossed his mind that there would be hell to pay for it once Mary did wake up.

Stan spent the following two days rushing back and forth between the office, press calls, and Mary and Marshall's hospital rooms. Marshall's family stayed with him, but his parents also took turns visiting with Mary. She was still unconscious, but her doctor had assured Stan that he was purposefully keeping her asleep, to help her body heal. Stan had reluctantly agreed that it was best, even though he knew what hell was coming once she was awake again.

Jinx and Brandi also visited; Brandi more so than Jinx. Brandi knew her sister better than even Mary realized, and she had begun packing her things, knowing full well that Mary wouldn't even give Marshall a choice in where he would stay once he was released. Brandi could almost see how things would play out, and she was happy for her older sister. For too long, Mary had taken care of everyone else in her life, bearing the weight of her world on her shoulders with no help. Now she would have someone to take care of her for a chance, something that she desperately needed even if she didn't know that she needed it.

Marshall awoke briefly Saturday night, just long enough to call out for Mary. Then sleep claimed him again. Anna had been with him when he called out, and it broke her heart. When she and Seth had gotten the call that there had been another shooting, it was déjà vu all over again. She barely remembered the ride back to the hospital, but once they were there, they had been reassured that Marshall was going to be fine. He had been given a cocktail of sedatives, but the dosage was not lethal. Mary had shot the man who was going to kill Marshall, getting herself shot again in the process. But her doctor was also confident that she was going to be fine. Anna found that she had another reason to love Mary. Once again, she had put herself in harm's way to protect Marshall, and she had succeeded. Anna was quickly growing to love Mary.

On Sunday, Marshall woke again. He was tired and groggy, and the first thing he realized as the fog lifted was that Mary was not with him. He didn't even have to open his eyes to know this. He could just feel her presence, or lack thereof. He knew her scent, knew her voice and sounds, and he missed her desperately.

Anna was sitting beside her son's bed, her hand holding tightly to his. Seth had gone back to the hotel for a shower, but Anna didn't want to leave Marshall, especially when Mary couldn't be there to relieve her. She knew her son well enough to know that he wasn't going to handle her absence well. And she was right.

Marshall stirred restlessly, uncomfortable and longing to see his partner's face. "Mary?"

Anna stood up and leaned over her son, her expression one of comfort. "Mary isn't here right now, sweetheart. Settle down…"

His brilliant blue eyes opened and scanned the room. "Where is she?" he murmured, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

She bit her lower lip, hesitant to answer his question. As far as she knew, Mary was still under sedation downstairs.

Marshall studied his mother intently. "Mom…"

Finally she gave up and sighed. "Mary is in a room downstairs."

His heart rate picked up. "What? Why?"

"She was shot."

She regretted saying anything a few moments later, when the meaning of her words sank in and Marshall tried to push himself into a sitting position. "Marshall, honey, calm down."

Marshall removed the oxygen cannula from under his nose. "What happened to Mary, Mom?" he demanded anxiously.

"Marshall…"

"Mom!"

"She was shot, honey. But she's going to be okay," she added quickly when she saw fresh panic alight her son's eyes. "I promise you, she's going to be fine. She was shot in the shoulder. She's going to be fine."

Marshall barely heard her. Panic was overwhelming him again, and he felt his tenuous grip on consciousness begin to slip again. His head fell back against the pillows.

"Marshall!" Anna took her son's hand again as medical staff flooded the room. She was pushed aside, unable to do anything but watch helplessly.

"Marshall…"

Shortly after Marshall's awakening and subsequent panic attack, Anna found herself downstairs, heading toward Mary's room. But as she was walking, she spotted a familiar face.

"Dr. Reilly!"

Steven Reilly turned to see the mother of one of his patients rushing toward him. "Yes, Mrs. Mann?"

"I need to speak with you. It's very important…"

The next time Marshall awoke, he felt as though a thick cloud was wrapped around his head, and he recognized the residual effects of sedatives. He remembered speaking with his mother, being told that Mary had been shot… Mary…

His breathing must have changed, because he felt a familiar hand on his arm.

Anna watched her son intently. "Marshall? Honey, can you hear me?"

With a great reluctance, he finally opened his eyes. His surroundings were unfamiliar.

Squeezing his hand gently, Anna brought her son's attention back to her. "You were moved to a private room downstairs, honey." It had taken a lot of pleading and threatening on her part, but finally she was able to convince Dr. Reilly to have Marshall moved to a private room. He still needed constant care, but this was the better arrangement. She knew her boy and what was best for him.

Marshall heaved a weary sigh and let his eyes slide shut. Mary still wasn't there with him. What if his mother had told her that she was in a different room, just so he wouldn't have to deal with the cold hard truth yet? What if Mary was gone? His fingers curled into a fist at the thought. Mary couldn't be dead.

"Marshall, listen to me, sweetheart. Open your eyes." Anna's voice was firm, but loving, and finally he looked at her again. She smiled tenderly and motioned to the other side of the room. Slowly his gaze followed her hand.

"Mary…"

There was a second bed just a few feet away, and in it was Mary. A huge weight flew off of his shoulders as he watched her sleep.

Anna smiled at her son's reaction. "I was able to convince both of your doctors that putting you two in the same room would be beneficial for you both." Stan had been surprised when she had approached him with the idea, but he had quickly gotten onboard with it. Mary had been awake once, and she had quickly been sedated again when she woke up agitated and calling for Marshall, just as Marshall had called for her. They shouldn't have been separated in the first place. At least, that was what Anna believed.

A soft, relieved smile touched Marshall's lips. "Thank you, Mom." His words were heartfelt. Mary was alive, and he could see her. He wouldn't allow anyone to separate them again.

"You're welcome, sweetheart." She stood up and softly kissed the top of her son's head. "Are you going to be okay if I go to the hotel for a shower and a nap?"

He nodded, still unable to take his eyes off of his sleeping partner. "Of course, Mom. Go get some rest. I'll be fine."

Anna couldn't help chuckling softly. "I know you will be." He was with Mary again.

They would both be fine.

Several hours after Anna left, Mary finally stirred.

Marshall was flipping through a book that his mother left when a noise from Mary's side of the room caught his attention. He put the book down and turned his head toward her. "Mary?"

Mary groaned softly, lifting her hand to her head. "Marshall?"

He almost cried his relief at the sound of her voice. "I'm here, Mare."

She turned over in the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

The sound of his voice was deeply comforting to her, and suddenly the five feet that separated them was too much for her to tolerate. With a stifled groan, she pushed herself upright in the bed. Then she eased herself to her feet, giving herself long enough to adjust before she began to shuffle forward.

Marshall heard her move, and he frowned. "Mare, what are you doing? Stay in your bed."

"Shut up," she snapped as she moved slowly and carefully across the floor.

He fell silent and watched as she crossed the floor. When she reached his bed, he extended a hand and wrapped it firmly around her wrist. "What are you doing?"

"You know exactly what I'm doing, Doofus." With a soft grunt, she sat down beside him on the bed.

Marshall watched her intently, not entirely sure what to make of her sudden need to be close to him. Not that he was complaining. He liked the closeness and the intimacy it allowed, and more than once he had initiated it. But this was the first time she had.

Pulling her legs up on the bed, Mary settled in next to Marshall and eased her uninjured arm around him. She could see the questions in his eyes, and eventually they would have to be answered. But for now, it was just the two of them and quenching the undeniable need to be close to him. It was new and frightening, but there was no stopping it.

Marshall didn't hesitate to rest his head against her shoulder. For the moment, it was just the two of them. Nothing outside of their room existed. No gunmen, no crimes needing to be solved… nothing.

Mary made both of them comfortable and tightened her arm around Marshall. Neither of them were questioning the contact; it was exactly what they both needed. They drew comfort and strength from it.

No words were spoken, because none were needed.

Anna stepped back into the room an hour later and was treated to a touching sight. Mary had climbed into Marshall's bed, and now they were both sleeping peacefully. Mary's arm was wrapped protectively, almost possessively, around Marshall. Marshall had his head on Mary's shoulder. Both looked happy and relaxed, something that Anna hadn't seen in far too long.

Smiling to herself, Anna stepped back out of the room, leaving Mary and Marshall to continue sleeping in peace.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Yay, Mary and Marshall are together again! I also saw a video of Frederick Weller discussing Marshall, and he confirmed that Marshall was in love with Mary. So I felt inspired. Hopefully the next chapter of this will be up faster, but the muse is evil... Thanks for reading, and please review!